The band spring concert took place in the Aragon Theater on May 1. Aragon’s Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble performed for the last concert of the year with songs, swing and solos.
The concert alternated between the Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble, each playing three songs before intermission and repeating the cycle after. Every song had at least two solos, offering the spotlight to individual musicians.
Sophomore and alto saxophonist in Jazz Band Sami Fayyad, who performed three solos, said solos not only demonstrate musical prowess, but also personality.
“Within the chords, we navigate it and then we try to make it something that is really special, and really unique to ourselves [and] express ourselves,” Fayyad said.
Band director Kevin Gallagher said his students influenced his selection of songs the Jazz Band and Ensemble would play.
“Gauging from what we played first semester and what we’ve been playing throughout the year, … I felt the vibe of the students, and I picked music based on what I thought they would like,” Gallagher said.
Additionally, Gallagher presented select students of both the ensembles with “Most Valuable Player” and “Most Improved” awards before their last song. In Jazz Ensemble, junior and drummer Aaron Van Arkel received the Most Improved award, while MVP was given to senior drummer Eric Cheon. In Jazz Band, freshman trumpet Nicholas Dobbs and freshman drummer Levi Kikuchi both tied for the MVP, while freshman trombone Daniel Voyles and sophomore drummer Ryan McNamara tied for Most Improved.
The audience included many family members of performers and faculty.
“I love all the concerts,” said Michael Czuba, an audience member. “I come to every one.”
After the concert, Gallagher was encouraged by his students’ enthusiasm.
“The energy of the students was on point,” Gallagher said. “They looked like they were really enjoying themselves, which is, at least this year, 100 percent my goal.”
The choir spring concert took place in the Aragon Theater on May 3. The concert featured Men’s, Women’s, and Chamber Choir, along with three acapella groups and the Bowditch Middle School Chamber Choir.
Since this is the last concert of the year, the choirs use previous performances for reference.
“Spring concerts are somewhat easier because we’ve done it already once in the winter [and] in the fall,” said John Chen, Aragon’s Orchestra and Choir director. “We take those logistical things and technical things; we still do work on those things as performers.”
Choir collaborated with Bowditch Middle School’s choir in an effort to bridge the gap between Aragon and local middle schools.
“Choir is combined with Bowditch Middle School, as we always like to extend collaboration with the community,” Chen said, “especially with the lower schools so that all parents and students can see that music doesn’t end in middle school.”
Bowditch performers were also excited to participate in a larger performance.
“It was great to see all the languages and all the people and the alumni that came over,” said Mihika Samudrala, an eighth grader from Bowditch.
The spring choir concert offers an opportunity for the ultimate culmination of practices and performances.
“Spring concerts are just special. We are able to feel the work and look back at how much effort and time we dedicated to this,” Chen said. “It’s sentimental, that’s the biggest part of it.”
